Unveiled faces

Introduction

I'm sure everyone will be well aware of the debate that is going on, and on, over Muslim women wearing veils. Two weeks ago Jack Straw said that he requested Muslim women to remove their veils when they came to see him. Other ministers have joined in on both sides, including the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, a school in West Yorkshire has suspended a teacher who insisted on wearing the veil, and there's no sign of the row going away.

Well, I don't want to add to that debate today, but I thought it would be interesting to see what the Bible has to say on the subject of veils. It's clearly a religious issue, so what's the Christian view?

There is one very significant place in the Old Testament where a veil is mentioned. In Exodus chapter 34, when Moses comes down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments we are told that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lordref. This was the lingering radiance of the glory of God. But when the people saw it they were so afraid that they ran away! So, Moses put a veil over his face to hide the radiance, But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came outref.

These are the events that the Apostle Paul picks up on in our reading from 2 Corinthians chapter 3. He says of Christians in verse 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.ref Rather, he says in verse 18, we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing gloryref.

In this passage Paul uses the image of the veil to make two very important points. First, that there is no veil between the Christian and God. Second, that there should be no veil between the Christian and the world.

1. There is no veil between the Christian and God

First, there is no veil between the Christian and God.

From our reading we learn that by nature people are separated from God in three ways: there is a veil over their minds, there is a veil over their hearts, and there is a veil over their faces. By nature we cannot understand God, we cannot come to know God, and we can never hope to see God.

But, we are told in verse 16, whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.ref We can't take away the veil between us and God by ourselves — as verse 14 says, only in Christ is it taken awayref. But God, in his goodness, can take the veil away for us.

This is how it works. [illustration: tea-towel is veil. A veil separates us from God: we cannot understand God, we cannot know God, we cannot see God. This is the weight of our sin; the Bible calls it God's wrath that remains on us. Jesus was different: he always knew his Father; there was no barrier between them, no veil. But on the cross he was separated from God; the veil of God's wrath was laid on him instead. So, when we come to Jesus, the veil is transferred, taken away from us, laid on Jesus, so that we can know God.]

My nearly-five-year-old daughter, Hannah, has just started school, which she loves. So my wife, Penny, was a bit surprised to find Hannah quite upset when she went to collect her one day last week. Eventually the story came out: it turns out that she had been told off by the teacher for something the child next to her had done. She'd done nothing wrong, but she was getting the telling off. When I heard this, as a parent, I was indignant at the injustice, but then I remembered. Wasn't that exactly like what happened to Jesus? He'd done nothing wrong, but he took the punishment. The veil of God's wrath on my life was taken from me and laid on him. Thanks to Hannah's experience, I had a tiny insight into the Father Heart of God.

Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken awayref. Like Moses meeting with God, the Christian does so with unveiled face. And unveiled mind, and unveiled heart. The Christian can understand God, can know God, and can see God's glory.

If you feel that there is a veil between you and God then there is only one way for it to be removed: come to Jesus and trust in his work on the cross. You can't remove the veil yourself; only he can do that.

So, when we come to God, let us make sure we do so with unveiled faces. Only God can remove the veil, so we must come trusting in Jesus and confessing our sin. Let's make sure that we confess the things that separate us from him, then they will be taken away. And we, with unveiled faces, can reflect the glory of the Lord.

2. There should be no veil between the Christian and the world

The other point is that there should be no veil between the Christian and the world.

The whole thrust of Paul's argument in the surrounding verses is that the Christian's duty is to show God's glory to the world. Moses veiled his face to hide God's glory because the people were terrified. But we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing gloryref.

Paul uses the word "reflect" — God's glory shines on our faces, and that glory in turn is reflected to shine on the world. But we are not like normal mirrors. A normal mirror reflects the light, however strong, but it always remains the same, just a mirror. As we reflect the Lord's glory we are changed ourselves, transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing gloryref. It's a lovely promise, isn't it? As we gaze upon Christ we are transformed to be like him.

The point that Paul is making is that we mustn't keep this transformation hidden from the world. God's glory is shone to be seen! In Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount,

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men.ref

This light is not generated by us, but is the light of God's glory reflecting in our unveiled faces and transformed lives. So, unlike Moses, we must lift the veil that covers our faces and hides the glory of God in our lives.

Less frequently these days, but still quite often, a bride at a wedding will enter the church wearing a veil. As she joins the groom at the front the veil will be taken away, and the whole congregation can see how beautiful she is. It would be odd for her to stay veiled throughout, wouldn't it? On the day she is at her most beautiful, she wants everyone to see that beauty. The veil is designed to be taken away; her beauty is there to be seen.

In the same way, we need to unveil our faces to show God's glory to the world.

In the next chapter Paul gives some examples of how he refuses to veil the glory of God. He does not deceive people or use underhand ways to win them. He does not distort the word of God. He sets forth the truth openly and plainly. These are good things to remember for all of us, especially those who teach God's word to others.

But I wonder if there are other ways in which we keep the glory of God veiled from the world.

I know that when I am grumpy towards others I have veiled the glory of God in my life. I know that when I judge, or criticise, or gossip I have veiled the glory of God in my life. When I fail to keep a promise, or fail to do the good God has prompted me to do, then I am veiling the glory of God in my life. When I scowl instead of smiling, or when I am withdrawn and surly at work I am veiling the glory of God in my life. When I put myself first, or am inconsiderate to others I have lowered the veil again, and hidden the work God is doing in my life.

The call of God here is simply that we are open, that we let his glory be reflected in our lives and seen by the world. No veil between us and God; no veil between us and the world. Our call is that we with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's gloryref.

You may not feel very glorious, but that's OK, because it is God's glory that reflects from us when the veils are taken away.

Conclusion

No doubt the Muslim veil row will rumble on and on. But I think we can use it to help us as long as it lasts. How about every time we hear veils mentioned we try to recall Paul's message here: And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing gloryref. Let's remember to come to God with unveiled faces, confessing our sin so that his glory can shine on us. And let's remember to lift the veil between us and the world, so that they can see his glory too.